Boston: Fenway Park

Overview

Amenities: There are lots of food options, both in and outside the park. The prices actually aren't that bad, and the food is excellent. The concourses are fairly narrow, dark, and difficult to navigate. The seats are small, but there is some leg room. Just hope you aren't behind a post. Views are decent from most seats, but there are some with horrible views. The scoreboards are decent, but as they add more info boards, the look gets a little cluttered.

History: This park officially opened in 1912, but truly opened before that, and was rebuilt on the site. Recent additions are arguable as to whether they are good or bad. As for the Red Sox, we all know their story.

Location: The neighborhood is great. It's fun, lively, and fairly close to downtown. Parking is a tremendous challenge, and it can be a hike to get to the park, and the subway can get very crowded. Basically, it is easiest to come early, stay late. Of course, in a place like Fenway, there is plenty to do. Unfortunately, recent additions to the park have blocked some of the view, like of the famous Citgo sign, but out right field, you can still see the city.

Atmosphere: Yes, it's crowded, but when the crowd is this fun (or drunk), the game is very interesting, depending on where you sit. It's almost always sold out because it's a small park, and 'cause the Sox are pretty good, but the organization really crams people in, so it can be a little tight, especially in the concourses. Just hope you aren't behind a post. That can really ruin a game.

Aesthetics: The exterior is real brick, not the fake stuff like at Camden Yards. Inside, it is a nice looking quirky park. Unfortunately, recent renovations have added more and more to the top of the park, in seats, luxury boxes, and massive advertizing billboards. I like Wrigley better than Fenway because at this point, Fenway seems to be getting cluttered with ugly money-making signage, etc. on top of it, and it looks terrible. Wrigley has avoided that.

Worst seats

Sitting behind a post: Sitting behind a post is worse at Fenway than at Wrigley because the whole park is more cramped and more obstructed view seats are sold. Plus, only having one deck, Fenway has many seats quite a ways from the field, sometimes as many as 70 rows from the nearest grass.

Section 92: The triangle is a unique area in Fenway Park. But most fans probably don't want to watch two green walls converge for the whole game. Fans in section 92 face directly outward toward center field. Stiff necks are in store for all who try to actually see the infield.